Fabric packaging

ABSTRACT

Pile and similar fabrics are prevented from matting when rolled up by attaching at each side of the fabric a strip having two shoulders, the first of which projects downwardly therefrom beneath the plane of the bottom of the fabric when the fabric is disposed horizontally, and the second of which projects upwardly therefrom above the plane of the top of the fabric. The inner face, i.e. the face toward the center of the fabric and away from the selvage, of the second, or downwardly projecting, shoulder is vertical as is the outer face of the first, or upwardly projecting, shoulder, and these vertical faces are aligned with each other, so when the fabric is rolled up about a horizontal axis the inner face of the downwardly projecting shoulder bears against the outer face of the upwardly projecting shoulder, and the downwardly projecting shoulder is held on the outer side of the upwardly projecting shoulder. The core on which the fabric is rolled has a flange at each end which projects radially away from the axis of the core, and these flanges each have axially outer faces which lie in radial planes. These flange faces are adapted to bear against the inner face of the downwardly projecting shoulder of the strip on the first wrap of the fabric about the core. The planes of the flange faces are spaced apart a sufficient distance axially of the core that the fabric is held taut and lies along a helical, or substantially helical, path around the core axis. The thickness of at least one of the shoulders on each strip measured normal to the plane of the surface of the fabric is at least equal to, and preferably slightly greater than, the thickness of the fabric.

United States Patent Smiley [451 July 4, 1972 [54] FABRIC PACKAGING [72] Inventor: Yale l-l. Smiley, Waterloo, Ontario,

Canada [73] Assignee: Uniroyal Ltd., Montreal, Quebec, Canada 22 Filed: May25,1970

[21] Appl.N0.'. 40,150

2,944,752 7/1960 Schwartz .242/62 3,102,700 9/1963 Lemieux ...242/62 3,420,365 1/1969 Bailey ..206/51 Primary Examiner-George F. Mautz Assistant ExaminerGregory A. Walters Att0rneyDavid B. Miller [57] ABSTRACT Pile and similar fabrics are prevented from matting when rolled up by attaching at each side of the fabric a strip having two shoulders, the first of which projects downwardly therefrom beneath the plane of the bottom of the fabric when the fabric is disposed horizontally, and the second of which projects upwardly therefrom above the plane of the top of the fabric. The inner face, i.e. the face toward the center of the fabric and away from the selvage, of the second, or downwardly projecting, shoulder is vertical as is the outer face of the first, or upwardly projecting, shoulder, and these vertical faces are aligned with each other, so when the fabric is rolled up about a horizontal axis the inner face of the downwardly projecting shoulder bears against the outer face of the upwardly projecting shoulder, and the downwardly projecting shoulder is held on the outer side of the upwardly projecting shoulder. The core on which the fabric is rolled has a flange at each end which projects radially away from the axis of the core, and these flanges each have axially outer faces which lie in radial planes. These flange faces are adapted to bear against the inner face of the downwardly projecting shoulder of the strip on the first wrap of the fabric about the core. The planes of the flange faces are spaced apart a sufficient distance axially of the core that the fabric is held taut and lies along a helical, or substantially helical, path around the core axis. The thickness of at least one of the shoulders on each strip measured normal to the plane of the surface of the fabric is at least equal to, and preferably slightly greater than, the thickness of the fabric.

15 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PATENTEBJUL 41972 sum 1 or 3' S: 2 5 I 5:: l

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w r v w 1' 1' r n INVENTOR. Yule H. Smiley [l I [III Ill ll II" N PRTENTEDJULM 1972 saw 2 0F 5 INVENTOR. Yale H. Smiley P'A'TE'N'TEDJUL' 4 m2 SHEET 3 0F 3 INVENTOR.

Yule H. Smiley FABRIC PACKAGING This invention relates to a method and means for winding pile fabrics such as velvets, tufted rugs, tufted upholstery and similar fabrics in a manner to relieve the compressing pressure on the pile or tufts to prevent matting of the fabric and consequent damage to the appearance of its surface.

Fabrics are customarily rolled into rolls for storage and shipment. When stored or piled, any continua] pressures causing the surface of the fabric of one wrap to be pressed against the backing of the fabric in the immediately adjacent wrap tends to mat down or otherwise mar the surface of the fabric. This problem is especially troublesome in pile fabrics such as velvets, tufted rugs and upholstery and similar surface-textured fabrics.

According to this invention a method and means is provided for winding fabrics to eliminate or greatly diminish the pressure, normal to the surface of the fabric, exerted on the face of the fabric within the roll. In accordance with this invention a strip is attached to the fabric at each side thereof and extends longitudinally along the side of the fabric. This strip may be sewn to the fabric, or cemented to the fabric, or it may be attached thereto by any other conventional means. The strip has two shoulders on it. A first projects upwardly from the midplane of the strip and the second projects downwardly from that mid-plane. The mid-plane may consist of an attaching tab by which the strip is attached to the fabric so that the midplane effectively is the plane of the fabric. The strip resembles a long narrow tape with the attaching tab along one edge thereof. The upwardly projecting shoulder is next to the attaching tab and the downwardly projecting shoulder extends along the other edge of the tape, so that the attaching tab will lie along one edge of the tape, the downwardly projecting shoulder will lie along the other edge of the tape and the upwardly projecting shoulder will be disposed intermediate the attaching tab and the downwardly projecting shoulder.

The inner edge of the downwardly projecting shoulder is aligned with the outer edge of the upwardly projecting shoulder, so that when the tape is wound in a roll the shoulders nest with the two edges bearing against each other and the attaching tab is wound along a helical path. The shoulders act as spacers between succeeding wraps of the tape, and the thickness of at least oneof the shoulders is at least equal to, and preferably slightly greater than, the thickness of the fabric with which the tape is to be used.

A tape is attached to each selvage edge of the fabric by its respective attaching tab, and with the tapes attached the fabric is wound on a core. The core is provided with a flange at each end having a radial face adapted to bear against the inner face of the downwardly projecting shoulder on the first wrap of the tape and fabric about the core. The radial faces of the flanges at each end of the core are spaced apart a sufficient distance to hold the fabric taut as it is wrapped thereon with the inner face of the downwardly projecting shoulder bearing against the radial face of the flange. Succeeding wraps are wrapped on the core with the inner face of the downwardly projecting shoulder bearing against the outer face of the upwardly projecting shoulder of the preceding wrap so that the shoulders in each succeeding wrap are held in the same radial planes and the fabric in each succeeding wrap is maintained taut.

For a better understanding of the nature of this invention, reference should be had to the following detailed description of a specific embodiment thereof, when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIG. I is an axial sectional view through a roll of fabric using this invention showing the core, the fabric and the attaching strips when the fabric is wound into a roll as contemplated by this invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a segment of the attaching strip used in this invention illustrating the strip which is to be attached to the right-hand edge of the fabric as viewed in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side elevation schematic view illustrating the manner of attaching the strips to the selvage edges of a fabric; and

FIG. 4 is a top plan schematic view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 3.

When applied to the fabric, strips at the opposite edges of the fabric must be in symmetrical opposite configurations. It will be apparent, however, as this description proceeds, that a single configuration of strip may be employed, because a strip for the left-hand" edge of the fabric will be achieved if a strip used for the right-hand edge of the fabric is simply turned end-for-end. Therefore, both left-hand and right-hand strips can be obtained from a single composite strip depending only upon the manner in which they are positioned on the fabric.

Referring specifically to FIG. 2 of the drawing, one embodiment of the strip 10 is illustrated there. It will be noted that this strip is a narrow tape-like base strip which comprises a long narrow sheet of paper or the like. One edge 11 of this sheet does not have a shoulder attached thereto, and this edge forms an attaching tab which may be pinned, sewed, cemented or otherwise attached to the selvage of the fabric to be protected. There is fixed to the other edge of this sheet a downwardly projecting shoulder 13. In the embodiment illustrated, this shoulder 13 comprises a narrow strip of paper, approximately one-third the width of the base strip, and this narrower strip is corrugated and adhered to the underside of the base strip. Intermediate the edges of the base strip and projecting upwardly therefrom is a further shoulder 12. In the embodiment illustrated this shoulder 12 is formed from a narrow strip of paper, approximately one-third the width of the base strip, which is corrugated and adhered to the upper surface of the base strip along its center. Thus, from edge to edge, the attaching strip 10 comprises an attaching tab portion 11 along one edge thereof, an upwardly projecting shoulder 12 at the middle of the strip and a downwardly projecting shoulder 13 at the other edge of the strip.

As viewed in the drawing, shoulder 12 has its right-hand edge, or face, lying along a plane which is common to the plane of the left-hand edge, or face, of shoulder 13 so that as strip 10 is wound in a roll, shoulders 12 and 13 will nest with these two faces bearing against each other and the attaching tab 11 lying along a substantially helical path.

In FIGS. 3 and 4 of the drawings the method of attaching strips 10 to the opposite selvage edges of a fabric is illustrated. In these figures, a fabric 14 to be protected is pulled from a source of supply to a work table 15. Simultaneously therewith composite strips 10 for each selvage of the fabric are led from supply rolls 16 and 17, in right-hand and left-hand configurations respectively, to table 15 where they pass through sewing machines 18 and 19 simultaneously with the selvage edges of fabric 14. The composite strips are sewn to the selvage edges of fabric 14; in one embodiment the stitch line is immediately adjacent to the edge of the fabric 14 and is approximately at the midline of attaching tab 11. After the strips 10 are sewn to the fabric 14, the fabric 14 is expanded, or stretched, laterally and advanced to a spool-like core 20 mounted on a table 21 and driven from a motor schematically illustrated at 22 through belt 23 and pulley 24 attached in driving relation to the core 20. The fabric 14 may be expanded laterally by any suitable means. Conveniently, a spreader roll or spreader bars can be positioned between tables 15 and 21.

Referring to FIG. 1, it will be noted that core 20 has a central tubular portion 25 and ends 26, 27. Ends 26, 27, like strip 10, are provided in left-hand and right-hand configurations. Ends 26, 27 comprise stepped flanges 28, 29 and 28, 29' respectively. The construction and function of these ends are generally similar, so a description of one will suffice. The axially innermost step 28 of flange 26 has a greater radial diameter than the axial outermost step 29 of the flange. The dif ference in radii between steps 28 and 29 may be at least equal to, or slightly greater than, the thickness of the fabric to be protected. A face 30 between steps 28 and 29 lies in a radial plane and connects steps 28 and 29. A similar face 30' connects steps 28', 29' on the other end of the core. Faces 30, 30 are spaced apart a distance axially of the core sufficient that when the fabric to be wound on the core is wound-thereon, the respective shoulders 13 of the attaching strips at the opposite sides of the fabric, on the first wrap of fabric on the core, will nest in the space provided by the offset of steps 28, 29 and 28, 29', and the lateral bearing face of shoulder -13 will bear against their respective faces 30, 30', with the fabric stretched taut therebetween.

The fabric 14 is wrapped on the core such that in the first wrap thereof on core 20, the downwardly projecting shoulders 13 nest in the offset formed by steps 28, 29 and 28', 29'. As will be apparent, once this first wrap is on the core, the upwardly projecting flange 12 of the base strip 10 forms a similar offset configuration to steps 28, 29. Therefor, the second turn of fabric may be wound thereon in similar fashion with depending flange 13 nesting in the offset provided by upstanding flange 12. In this fashion, succeeding wraps of fabric are wrapped about core 20.

The thickness of at least one of the shoulders in each strip 10 is at least equal to, and preferably is slightly greater than, the thickness of the fabric 14 to be protected.

In one specific embodiment used to protect a fabric 14 having a thickness equal to five-sixteenth inches, the projection of flange 12 above the mid-plane of strip 10 equaled eleven thirty-seconds inches, and the projection of flange l3 beneath such plane equaled eleven thirty-seconds inches. The fabric was 58 inches wide and weighed ounces per square yard. The strip 10 consisted of a base strip of paper 3 inches wide and 0.020 inches thick. Flanges l2 and 13 each consisted of strips of paper l inch wide and 0.025 inches thick which were cemented to the base strip in sine wave corrugated fashion with three complete waves, or corrugations, per lineal inch of base strip. This was found to produce a highly satisfactory result in a fabric roll having a gross weight of 75 pounds with 32 linear yards of fabric wound thereon in 24 wraps.

Various modifications may be made in the embodiment illustrated without departing from the spirit or scope of this invention. For example, the shoulders 12 and 13 are made in corrugated configuration for ease and cheapness of manufacture, but obviously other configurations may be employed so long as the shoulders have the requisite bearing faces and the necessary strength transversely thereof to withstand the tension imposed on them in supporting the fabric taut along a substantially helical path.

Additionally, although core 20 in the embodiment shown has a spool-like configuration, it will be apparent that if desired a single cylindrical core may be employed. The shoulders l3 simply would then extend over the edges of the core, and the bearing faces 30, would be formed by the ends of the core.

Having thus described my invention, what 1 claim and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. In a strip to be attached to the edge of a fabric to be rolled, the combination which comprises a narrow base strip, one edge of said base strip forming an attaching tab adapted to be affixed to the fabric, a first shoulder projecting downwardly from said base strip and extending along the length thereof and adjacent to the edge of said base strip opposite said attaching tab, a second shoulder projecting upwardly from said base strip extending along the length thereof and disposed intermediate said attaching tab and said first shoulder, said first shoulder having a bearing face at the side thereof closer to said attaching tab, said second shoulder having a bearing face at the side thereof which is farthest from said attaching tab, the bearing face of said first shoulder being substantially aligned with the bearing face of said second shoulder, at least one of said shoulders having a thickness at least equal to the thickness of the fabric to be protected.

2. A combination according to claim 1 wherein both said shoulders are formed of corrugated strips attached to said base strip.

3. A combination according to claim 2 wherein said corrugated strips and base strip are formed of paper.

4. A combination according to claim 1 wherein said second shoulder has a thickness at least equal to the thickness of the fabric to be protected.

5. The combination which comprises a fabric to be protected and a strip attached to' each side edge of said fabric, each said strip comprising a narrow base strip, one edge of each said base strip forming an attaching tab, said attaching tab on each said base strip being attached to the side of the fabric, each said strip having a first shoulder projecting downwardly from its base strip and extending along the length thereof and adjacent to the edge of its base strip which is opposite its attaching tab, each said strip having a second shoulder projecting upwardly from its base strip extending along the length thereof and disposed intermediate its attaching tab and its first shoulder, said first shoulder of each strip having a bearing face at the side thereof closer to said strips attaching tab, said second shoulder of each strip having a bearing face at the side thereof which is farthest from said strips attaching tab, the bearing face of said first shoulder of each said strip being substantially aligned with the bearing face of said second shoulder of the same strip, at least one of said shoulders in each strip having a thickness at least equal to the thickness of the fabric.

6.. A combination according to claim 5 wherein both said shoulders of each said strip are formed of corrugated strips attached to said base strip.

7. A combination according to claim 6 wherein said corrugated strips and base strip of each said strip are formed of paper.

8. A combination according to claim 5 in which said second shoulder of each said strip has a thickness at least equal to the thickness of the fabric to be protected.

9. The combination which comprises a fabric to be protected and a strip attached to each side edgeof said fabric, each said strip comprising a narrow base strip, one edge of each said base strip forming an attaching tab, said attaching tab on each said base strip being attached to the side of the fabric, each said strip having a first shoulder projecting downwardly from its base strip and extending along the length thereof and adjacent to the edge of its base strip which is opposite its attaching tab, each said strip having a second shoulder projecting upwardly from its base strip extending along the length thereof and disposed intermediate its attaching tab and its first shoulder, said first shoulder of each strip having a bearing face at the side thereof closer to said strips attaching tab, said second shoulder of each strip having a bearing face at the side thereof which is farthest from said strips attaching tab, the bearing face of said first shoulder of each said strip being substantially aligned with the bearing face of said second shoulder of the same strip, at least one of said shoulders in each strip having a thickness at least equal to the thickness of the fabric, a core on which said fabric is rolled, said core comprising a central core, a radial bearing face adjacent each end of said core, said bearing faces being constructed to receive in face to face relation in the first wrap of fabric on said core the bearing face of the downwardly projecting shoulder of the said strip on that side edge of the fabric, said bearing faces adjacent the ends of said core being spaced apart an axial distance at least equal to the distance between the bearing faces measured transversely of the fabric of the downwardly projecting shoulder of the strips at each side of the fabric.

10. A combination according to claim 9 wherein both said shoulders of each said strip are formed of corrugated strips attached to said base strip.

11. A combination according to claim 10 wherein said corrugated strips and base strip of each said strip are formed of paper.

12. A combination according to claim 9 in which said second shoulder of each said strip has a thickness at least equal to the thickness of the fabric to be protected.

13 A method of protecting the surface of a fabric which comprises attaching to each side edge thereof a strip comprising a narrow base strip, one edge of said base strip fonning an attaching tab by which said strip is afiixed to the fabric, said strip having a first shoulder projecting downwardly from said base strip and extending along the length thereof and adjacent to the edge of said base strip which is opposite said attaching tab, a second shoulder projecting upwardly from said base strip extending along the length thereof and disposed intermediate said attaching tab and said first shoulder, said first shoulder having a bearing face at the side thereof closer to said attaching tab, said second shoulder having a bearing face at the side thereof which is farthest from said attaching tab, the bearing face of said first shoulder being substantially aligned with the bearing face of said second shoulder, at least one of said shoulders having a thickness at least equal to the thickness of the fabric to be protected, rolling said fabric on a core having a radial bearing face adjacent each end of said core, said radial bearing faces being constructed to receive in face to face relation in the first wrap of fabric on said core the bearing face of the downwardly projecting shoulder of the strip on that side edge of the fabric, the bearing faces adjacent the ends of said core being spaced apart an axial distance at least equal to the distance between the bearing faces measured transversely of the fabric of the downwardly projecting shoulder of the strips at each side of the fabric, tensioning the fabric laterally when it is rolled on said core, disposing the strips at opposite sides of the fabric with the bearing faces of the downwardly projecting shoulder in face to face relation with the bearing faces on said core at opposite ends thereof during the first wrap of fabric on said core, and in succeeding wraps disposing the bearing face of the downwardly projecting shoulder in each strip in face to face relation to the bearing face of the upwardly projecting shoulder of that strip in the preceding wrap.

14. A method according to claim 13 wherein said step of attaching a strip to each side edge of said fabric includes sewing each said base strip to each said side edge of said fabric, said base strip being formed of paper and having both said shoulders of each said strip formed of corrugated paper strips attached to said base strip.

15. A method according to claim 13 further including maintaining said base strip spaced from itself in succeeding wraps a radial distance at least equal to the thickness of the fabric to be protected at said second shoulder by providing said second shoulder of each said strip with a thickness at least equal to the thickness of the fabric to be protected. 

1. In a strip to be attached to the edge of a fabric to be rolled, the combination which comprises a narrow base strip, one edge of said base strip forming an attaching tab adapted to be affixed to the fabric, a first shoulder projecting downwardly from said base strip and extending along the length thereof and adjacent to the edge of said base strip opposite said attaching tab, a second shoulder projecting upwardly from said base strip extending along the length thereof and disposed intermediate said attaching tab and said first shoulder, said first shoulder having a bearing face at the side thereof closer to said attaching tab, said second shoulder having a bearing face at the side thereof which is farthest from said attaching tab, the bearing face of said first shoulder being substantially aligned with the bearing face of said second shoulder, at least one of said shoulders having a thickness at least equal to the thickness of the fabric to be protected.
 2. A combination according to claim 1 wherein both said shoulders are formed of corrugated strips attached to said base strip.
 3. A combination according to claim 2 wherein said corrugated strips and base strip are formed of paper.
 4. A combination according to claim 1 wherein said second shoulder has a thickness at least equal to the thickness of the fabric to be protected.
 5. The combination which comprises a fabric to be protected and a strip attached to each side edge of said fabric, each said strip comprising a narrow base strip, one edge of each said base strip forming an attaching tab, said attaching tab on each said base strip being attached to the side of the fabric, each said strip having a first shoulder projecting downwardly from its base strip and extending along the length thereof and adjacent to the edge of its base strip which is opposite its attaching tab, each said strip having a second shoulder projecting upwardly from its base strip extending along the length thereof and disposed intermediate its attaching tab and its first shoulder, said first shoulder of each strip having a bearing face at the side thereof closer to said strips attaching tab, said second shoulder of each strip having a bearing face at the side thereof which is farthest from said strips attaching tab, the bearing face of said first shoulder of each said strip being substantially aligned with the bearing face of said second shoulder of the same strip, at least one of said shoulders in each strip having a thickness at least equal to the thickness of the fabric.
 6. A combination according to claim 5 wherein both said shoulders of each said strip are formed of corrugated strips attached to said base strip.
 7. A combination according to claim 6 wherein said corrugated strips and base strip of each said strip are formed of paper.
 8. A combination according to claim 5 in which said second shoulder of each said strip has a thickness at least equal to the thickness of the fabric to be protected.
 9. The combination which comprises a fabric to be protected and a strip attached to each side edge of said fabric, each said strip comprising a narrow base strip, one edge of each said base strip forming an attaching tab, said attaching tab on each said base strip being attached to the side of the fabric, each said strip having a first shoulder projecting downwardly from its base strip and extending along the length thereof and adjacent to the edge of its base strip which is opposite its attaching tab, each said strip having a second shoulder projecting upwardly from its base strip extending along the length thereof and disposed intermediate its attaching tab and its first shoulder, said first shoulder of each strip having a bearing face at the side thereof closer to said strips attaching tab, said second shoulder of each strip having a bearing face at the side thereof which is farthest from said strips attaching tab, the bearing face of said first shoulder of each said strip being substantially aligned with the bearing face of said second shoulder of the same strip, at least one of said shoulders in each strip having a thickness at least equal to the thickness of the fabric, a core on which said fabric is rolled, said core comprising a central core, a radial bearing face adjacent each end of said core, said bearing faces being constructed to receive in face to face relation in the first wrap of fabric on said core the bearing face of the downwardly projecting shoulder of the said strip on that side edge of the fabric, said bearing faces adjacent the ends of said core being spaced apart an axial distance at least equal to the distance between the bearing faces measured transversely of the fabric of the downwardly projecting shoulder of the strips at each side of the fabric.
 10. A combination according to claim 9 wherein both said shoulders of each said strip are formed of corrugated strips attached to said base strip.
 11. A combination according to claim 10 wherein said corrugated strips and base strip of each said strip are formed of paper.
 12. A combination according to claim 9 in which said second shoulder of each said strip has a thickness at least equal to the thickness of the fabric to be protected.
 13. A method of protecting the surface of a fabric which comprises attaching to each side edge thereof a strip comprising a narrow base strip, one edge of said base strip forming an attaching tab by which said strip is affixed to the fabric, said strip having a first shoulder projecting downwardly from said base strip and extending along the length thereof and adjacent to the edge of said base strip which is opposite said attaching tab, a second shoulder projecting upwardly from said base strip extending along the length thereof and disposed intermediate said attaching tab and said first shoulder, said first shoulder having a bearing face at the side thereof closer to said attaching tab, said second shoulder having a bearing face at the side thereof which is farthest from said attaching tab, the bearing face of said first shoulder being substantially aligned with the bearing face of said second shoulder, at least one of said shoulders having a thickness at least equal to the thickness of the fabric to be protected, rolling said fabric on a core having a radial bearing face adjacent each end of said core, said radial bearing faces being constructed to receive in face to face relation in the first wrap of fabric on said core the bearing face of the downwardly projecting shoulder of the strip on that side edge of the fabric, the bearing faces adjacent the ends of said core being spaced apart an axial distance at least equal to the distance between the bearing faces measured transversely of the fabric of the downwardly projecting shoulder of the strips at each side of the fabric, tensioning the fabric laterally when it is rolled on said core, disposing the strips at opposite sides of the fabric with the bearing faces of the downwardly projecting shoulder in face to face relation with the bearing faces on said core at opposite ends thereof during the first wrap of fabric on said core, and in succeeding wraps disposing the bearing face of the downwardly projecting shoulder in each strip in face to face relation to the bearing face of the upwardly projecting shoulder of that strip in the preceding wrap.
 14. A method according to claim 13 wherein said step of attaching a strip to each side edge of said fabric includes sewing each said base strip to each said side edge of said fabric, said base strip being formed of paper and having both said shoulders of each said strip formed of corrugated paper strips attached to said base strip.
 15. A method according to claim 13 further including maintaining said base strip spaced from itself in succeeding wraps a radial distance at least equal to the thickness of the fabric to be protected at said second shoulder by providing said second shoulder of each said strip with a thickness at least equal to the thickness of the fabric to be protected. 